Rabbit hutch



Sept. 29, 1931 A. D. STONER 1,825,558

RABBIT HUTCH Filed Nov. l8 1930 dz flewe 5207197? Patented Sept. 29, 1931 ABRAHAM DEWEY STONER, OF NEW WINDSOR, MARYLAND RABBIT Huron Application filed November 18,' 1930. Serial No. 496,518.

My invention is an improvement in small houses adapted to confine animals for breeding purposes and relates moreespecially to enclosures of this character commonly known as rabbit hutch'es, the present application being directed to certain improvements in the-form of invention disclosed in the application filed by me August- 20, 1930, Serial No. 476,637.

One of the objectsof my present invention is to provide a slightly inclined floor for each compartment of the hutch or enclosurewhich is readily detachable from its supports for convenience in removing the same for-cleaning and repainting, as well as present a plain surface throughout its extent. i

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved form of metal chute through which droppings and other refuse may be discharged from the floors of the compartments, the said chute being located at the outside of the hutch, or beyond the rear wall thereof with the dischar eend preferably'extending forwardly un er the iousing, between the supporting legs thereof to deposit in a bucket or other container, whereby a more compact structure is provided with each compartment extending the full depth of the enclosure and communicating with the chute throughopenings in the rear walls of said compartments on a line with the floors; all as hereinafter fully described and more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rabbit hutch showing the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the housing.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the floors.

' Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the lower or discharge end of the metal chute,

and v Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the manner of connecting the discharge end to the body portion of the chute.

59 In carrying out my present invention the general construction of the rabbit hutch is substantially the same as disclosed in my prior application for patent hereinabove referred to; that is tosay, the body of the hutch is built with the side walls 99 and rear wall 10 attached to corner posts 11 extended below said Walls to support the housing above the ground to accommodate the metal chute hereinafter described, the roof 12 having the ventilating space 13 and the front of the housing closed by a screen door 1 14. Furthermore, the housing is provided at one side with nest boxes 15, one for each compartment. hereinafter referred to, and

with feed boxes at the other side access to which are had through the openings 16 in u the side wall 9.

In the present instance each floor 17 (shown in detail Fig. 3) is supported on strips or battens 18 attached to the opposite side walls of the housing and disposed at a slight inclination rearwardly, the front end resting upon a metal crosspiece 19 while the rear end is provided with a metal plate 20 extending through a transverse opening 21 v in the rear wall of the housing so that drop 7 pings and other refuse may be brushed from the floors out of the compartments. To prevent dirt or small particles from falling between the ends of the floor and side walls so of the housing flashing plates 22 are secured 7 to the floor which extend beyond the rear edge ofthe latter and abut against the rear wall of the housing, as shown in Fig. 1, and

the ends of the plate 20 are turned up on a line with the upstanding portion of the flashinga It will be understood'that the floors rest on the supports 18-19 and are removable through the door opening at the front er the housing for conveniencein cleaning them or repainting, the projecting rear ends of the fiashings abutting against the rear wall while thefront ends of the battens 18 terminate adjacent the crosspiece 19 for maintaining the floor in its inclined position. The metal chute which receives the drop- I pings and refuse swept from the floors through the 'transverseopenings 21 in the rear wall of the housing consists of'two sec tions 23 and 24, theupper section 23 being located against the rear wall of the housing and in the form of an outwardly bulged plate with side flanges through which screws 26 or other fastening means pass to secure the plate to said rear wall, and the section 24; forming an extension at the lower or discharge end of the chute converges to form a spout 27 for depositing into a bucket or other container 28. The discharge end portion or section of the chute is connected to the upper section or passage leading from the opening in the rear wall of the housing by means of inter-engaging bent portions 29 and 30 formed at the lower ends of the sides of the sections 23 and 2'12 respectively with the rear portion of the section 2% extended upwardly, at 31, to overlap thelower end of the corresponding portion of the upper section 23. By this form of joint the sections are connected by sliding the lower section on the fixed upper section, whereby said lower section may be reversed to extend under the housing or to the rear thereof as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As will be noted the bulged plate not only provides a passage for the cleanings from the floors to drop onto the discharge end portion of the chute but also projects the compartments from drafts, through the openingsQl, and to further protect the compartments from drafts, the lower section or discharge end of the chute may be provided with a cover, as illustrated in my prior application and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 ,of the accompanying drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the improved construction of the floor for the compartments of the rabbit hutch not only provides for having both conipartments of a maximum size with reference to the framework of the housing and a plain or solid surface throughout the area of the floor but cooperates with the present location of the chute at the outside of the housing, the particular construction of the chute also permitting it to be readily cleaned as well as providing for the discharge to be located either under the housing or beyond to the location of the hutch. It will be noted also that when the discharge end or lower section of thechute is extended under the housing the hutch may be placed against a wall when it is located within a building.

My invention disclosed in the present and prior applications for patents also contemplates other changes or modifications that may come within the scope and spirit of the claims.

I claim:

1. In an animal enclosure or rabbit hutch the combination with the framework comprising the housing supported by legs at the corners thereof, the rear wall of said housthe corners thereof, the rear wall of said housin having 7 a transverse opening through the same on a line with the floor of the hutch, of an outwardly bulging plate secured to the outer side of the rear wall of the housing. to provide a passageway or one section of a chute into which the sweepings from the floor pass from the aforesaid opening inthe housing, and a discharge end or section for ,the chute detachably connected to the lower end of said bulging plate.

3. In an animal enclosure or rabbit hutch the combination with the framework comprising the housing supported by legs at the corners thereof, the rear wall of said housing having a transverse opening through the same on a line with the floor of the hutch, of an outwardly bulged plate secured to the outer side of the rear wall of the housing to provide a passageway or one section of a chute into which the sweepings from the floor pass from the aforesaid opening in the housing, the lower ends of the sides of said plate being bent upon themselves to provide one member of a sliding joint, and an inclined discharge end or section for the chute having the upper ends of the sides thereof bent upon themselves to form the other member of the sliding joint whereby the chute may be reversed to change its direction of inclination with respect to-the housing.

AB RAHALI DEWEY STONER. 

